CALGARY - A penguin at the Calgary Zoo has died after swallowing a large stick it found in its exhibit.

Fiona, an adult Gentoo penguin, died in December, about eight days after she had surgery to remove the 25-centimetre stick.

Zoo curator Jamie Dorgan says the penguin seemed to be recovering well from surgery, but eight days after the operation, they found it dead in a holding room where it was being kept during recovery.

He says penguins are curious and may have thought the stick was nesting material.

Dorgan says staff do check the exhibit before letting out the birds and that day was no exception.

He called it "flukey", adding the zoo didn't put out a news release at the time because officials don't consider the death to be anything out of the ordinary.

"We don't put out a press release for every animal death. We are a large zoo, we have a lot of animals, all kinds of comings and goings, births, deaths, acquisitions...

"We've been incredibly lucky to get through a full year with 46 birds and this is the first death we had. Penguins have an average life span of somewhere around 20 years; realistically, we should be over the years seeing an average of two penguins dying a year as we go along. Statistically that's the way it is."

The zoo's penguin exhibit opened in February 2012.

The zoo has experienced several animal deaths in recent years including a hippo, wild goat, capybara and stingrays.

In December, two employees were disciplined after a great grey owl died.

It happened while the workers were transferring it from one holding area to another and the bird flew into a gate.

The zoo said an investigation showed the workers did not take reasonable precautions to ensure the owl's safety.

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Animal Photos Of The Week 12/9--12/16

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A lioness looks at a 'Christmas gift' during a photocall marking Christmas at the London Zoo in central London on December 12, 2012. CARL COURT/AFP/Getty Images

Lion cubs Heidi and Indi investigate a Christmas present given to them, during a media opportunity at London Zoo, Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012. The animals at ZSL London Zoo are set to enjoy a wild Christmas this year, with some very merry treats. Lion cubs Heidi and Indi have definitely made it on to Santas good list and will be getting their paws on some presents, whilst the penguins will be treated to festive fishy gifts under the tree. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Squirrel monkeys investigate a Christmas stocking given to them, during a media opportunity at London Zoo, Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012. The animals at ZSL London Zoo are set to enjoy a wild Christmas this year, with some very merry treats. Lion cubs Heidi and Indi have definitely made it on to Santas good list and will be getting their paws on some presents, whilst the penguins will be treated to festive fishy gifts under the tree. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Squirrel monkeys investigate a Christmas stocking given to them, during a media opportunity at London Zoo, Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012. The animals at ZSL London Zoo are set to enjoy a wild Christmas this year, with some very merry treats. Lion cubs Heidi and Indi have definitely made it on to Santas good list and will be getting their paws on some presents, whilst the penguins will be treated to festive fishy gifts under the tree. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

A Meerkat plays with a Christmas decoration at Taronga Zoo in Sydney on December 14, 2012. In the lead up to Christmas a selection of the zoo animals were challenged with Christmas-themed environmental enrichment activities. GREG WOOD/AFP/Getty Images

BERLIN, GERMANY - DECEMBER 12: A dwarf swan meanders by as zookeeper Yancy Rentz (L) and biologist Benjamin Ibler count ducks in a bird enclosure during the annual animal inventory at Zoo Berlin zoo on December 12, 2012 in Berlin, Germany. The zoo conducts the once-a-year inventory over a period of several months, depending on the species, to assess such factors as the state of animal colonies, the presence of foreign species and the true number of species and their members. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

BERLIN, GERMANY - DECEMBER 12: Zookeeper Thomas Warkentin strokes the head of a live rhinoceros iguana after measuring the lizard during the annual animal inventory at Zoo Berlin zoo on December 12, 2012 in Berlin, Germany. The zoo conducts the once-a-year inventory over a period of several months, depending on the species, to assess such factors as the state of animal colonies, the presence of foreign species and the true number of species and their members. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Penguins look for fish placed around a Christmas tree during a media opportunity at London Zoo, Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012. The animals at ZSL London Zoo are set to enjoy a wild Christmas this year, with some very merry treats. Lion cubs Heidi and Indi have definitely made it on to Santas good list and will be getting their paws on some presents, whilst the penguins will be treated to festive fishy gifts under the tree. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

BERLIN, GERMANY - DECEMBER 12: Zookeeper Thomas Warkentin holds a woma python from Australia during the annual animal inventory at Zoo Berlin zoo on December 12, 2012 in Berlin, Germany. The zoo conducts the once-a-year inventory over a period of several months, depending on the species, to assess such factors as the state of animal colonies, the presence of foreign species and the true number of species and their members. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

A female sea lion climbs out of a pool on heated steps on Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012, at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, Alaska. The center is using a heat pump system to extract energy from seawater to partially heat its facilities, including outdoor concrete areas used by animals and people. (AP Photo/Dan Joling)

BERLIN, GERMANY - DECEMBER 12: A giant grasshopper rests on the hand of a zookeeper during the annual animal inventory at Zoo Berlin zoo on December 12, 2012 in Berlin, Germany. The zoo conducts the once-a-year inventory over a period of several months, depending on the species, to assess such factors as the state of animal colonies, the presence of foreign species and the true number of species and their members. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)